Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Motion (EDM 1088)

The original motion:

That this House believes that there should be a select committee of seven honourable Members, being members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council, to review the way in which the responsibilities of Government were discharged in relation to Iraq and all matters relevant thereto, in the period leading up to military action in that country in March 2003 and in its aftermath.

This motion was lost Noes 298 Ayes 273.

The Question accordingly agreed to.

MR SPEAKER forthwith declared the main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House, recognising that there have already been four separate independent committees of inquiry into military action in Iraq and recognising the importance of learning all possible lessons from military action in Iraq and its aftermath, declines at this time, whilst the whole effort of the Government and the armed forces is directed towards improving the condition of Iraq, to make a proposal for a further inquiry which would divert attention from this vital task.

This amendment to the motion was won by the Government by 294 Ayes to 264 Noes.